Why buy consoles?

[ClassicJokester]

Why buy consoles? If you want to play games on them, is the best answer I can give.

I'll say first off that my consoles (PS2, Gamecube, N64, and 360, along with the 22" TV I use) reside on a small wire shelf next to my desktop, so I still use my swivelly office chair when I game. So that tramples on one of the biggest reasons I see for consoles. Just getting that out of the way.

I enjoy playing games on my consoles and on my desktop (which is a Mac, unfortunately, so my choice in games is rather limited. But PC on the way!), and which one I choose at any given time is entirely dependent on what game I'm playing. I love playing TF2 with my steam buddies, and Civ V when I have a day to spare, or maybe some Zen Bound 2 if I need to relax. Those are games that I thoroughly enjoy playing on a computer. I find it easier to connect with friends (multiple means of contact, like IM, email, VoIP and such) when I want to play with them on a deskto, I have the systems installed and set up. But it's also a lot easier for me to get distracted from a game for those same reasons, so I'm not sure if it's as good as I make it out to be. :]

On the other hand, I was brought up on consoles, and I tend prefer them for a few reasons, not least of which is that I'm just comfortable with them. I like the gamepads, I like the (general) ease of use, and I like the uniformity in everyone's machines (i.e. I can be 99% sure that other people are using a machine with the same specs as mine). I know that the graphics aren't as shiny as they could be, but I'm not bothered by the graphics in N64 games, so the jump from 720p on the 360 to the high-end PC graphics doesn't really matter to me. I should probably add the fact that most of my actual flesh and blood friends play on the 360 to this list as well. Also, I like being able to play a game on a console at the same time as I use my computer for random internetting, but that's probably pretty specific to my setup.

Long story short, it really depends on what you like. Pretty much a summation of our world, innit?

 

[jackpipsam]

well if you never had one then you don't know how great it is

 

[Assassin Xaero]

In terms of controls, some genres (sports, racing, fighting) just feel wrong on a PC, while some are still arguably better on consoles (third person shooters, RPGs). Plus, you know, the exclusives.

 

[mireko]

Exclusives.

Japanese devs seem to hate PCs, and there's no real PS3/360 emulation (even PS2 emulation is glitchy as fuck on slightly old PCs, due to problems with multi-core CPUs).

Oh, and nearly all free games for the PC are terrible. Yes, there are maybe a few gems. Not enough to make it a selling point.

[sub]I use both, though. PCs aren't expensive as long as you know what you're doing, and can be used for so much more than gaming. It's certainly worth it.[/sub]

 

[Arfreid]

I buy them for the games, I think it's more comfortable to play some types of games on a console than a computer.

Shooters, MMO, RTS == computers
Adventure, fighting, RPG == consoles

And also, the exclusive tittles makes buying a console worth it.

 

[Sabiancym]

1: Consoles have the superior games: Basically all major AAA titles are designed for consoles now, and some don't even go to the PC at all. While the PC does still get quite a few good exclusive AAA games, consoles get the lion's share, making investing in them a better value oriented approach.

2: PC performance superiority over consoles is waning. Unless you really shell out for parts, most gaming PCs do not have significant graphics/performance advantage over current consoles, and they certainly won't over the next gen of consoles.

3: The controller is an infinitely better control setup for gaming over the mouse and keyboard, with the exception of RTS, MMO and certain select games. While the mouse still controls better for precise aiming, the joystick serves that purpose just fine and has the advantage of being infinitely better for movement controls than the keyboard.

4: The more you plan to play multiplayer, the more appealing the consoles become. PCs basically have ZERO in-house playability, and only increase and spread costs of PC gaming to multiple people, while with 1 console 4 people can play multiplayer together; it only takes 4 consoles for 16 to play together. With few exceptions, the console community also tends to stick a bit more with games too; its easier to find matches for console games for longer than it is on PC, unless you REALLY, REALLY like playing a particular way.

5: Portability. Consoles are easy to transport, work basically anywhere there is a TV and power, and don't take up as much room. Good gaming PCs are often HUGE, and often way A FUCKING TON, in addition to having multiple parts that must be transported.

6: Player-generated content is one of the few advantages PCs really have, and its not even that great an advantage. Because when you think about it honestly, 97% of all user content is shit or smut, 2% is decent and only really 1% is truly good worth saying "Yeah, this was worth it".

7: What sounds more appealing, in all seriousness?

Pay $300-$500 for a system that is guaranteed to play any game that comes out for it for the next 5 years, is easily portable, has an extremely simple set-up and plays games at very good level of performance, OR pay anywhere from $1000 to $2500 for a system that may only be relevant for 3 years before needing new parts to play the latest games, isn't portable or sharable, can have an extremely complicated set-up, but can play games at a higher level of performance.

1: MMOs are pretty much PC exclusive, RTS games, and most console games come out on PC. Making your argument completely false. Not to mention the amount of free indie games out there for PC.

2: Not true at all. If I dropped my graphics settings down to DX9 and at the same level that consoles run, I'd get 100+ more FPS than consoles. Guaranteed. You aren't even close to being knowledgeable about this.

3: I use a controller with my PC all the time. Xbox or PS3, you can use them both. Another useless point.

4: PCs have way more dedicated gaming servers. That's a win right there. Plus you can have multiple people playing one game on a PC if you have multiple monitors.

5: Gaming laptops are more powerful than current gen consoles, and more portable. Plus you can build a decent desktop in a relatively small case.

6: You're a console gamer. You don't have a clue about user created content. I can think of 50 great mods in Oblivion alone.


7: Seriously, what sounds better now?

1: MMOs are PC exclusive because of WoW. You can barely compete with WoW on PC, how do you expect a console MMO to do it? And indie games fall into the "97% of all user generated content sucks ass" slot.

2: Bullshit. Absolute, bold-type fucking lie. Mind telling us how much your graphics card(s) cost? Let me guess....somewhere in the area of $150-$300USD, right? Thats not counting your processor and MBoard either.

3: Many games do not support gamepad use, or have terrible unalterable game pad controls. Examples: Battlefield games, Crysis 1, Team Fortress 2.

4: Dedicated servers cost money, and have their own set of balance and fairness issues to deal with. And how many PCs can really handle playing multiple copies of a high-end game; and how many really allow it?

5: Again, bullshit, and they're costly, even more so than desktop PCs.

6: Nice blind attack. Perhaps you ought to have at least taken a cursory glance at my profile before launching that particular move.

But personal attacks aside, lets take measure, shall we?

If I were to go to TESNexus and look for Oblivion mods right now and sort them into groups, what did you think I would wind up with more of? Well-thought out and implemented mods designed to add to or significantly improve or add to the game experience, or would I find more mods dedicated to "TEETIES" and stupid, inane BS?

7: Now what sounds better?

You've never owned a gaming PC have you? You don't have a clue what you're talking about.

You're only somewhat valid argument is cost, and it's nowhere near as big as you say it is considering that almost everyone already owns a PC and would only have to make minor upgrades. Plus the console accessory costs, extra $10 per game cost, and extra online cost for things like xbox live.

There is nothing a console does that a PC can't do and probably do better. Absolutely nothing.

 

[Sabiancym]

In terms of controls, some genres (sports, racing, fighting) just feel wrong on a PC, while some are still arguably better on consoles (third person shooters, RPGs). Plus, you know, the exclusives.

How does it feel wrong? I hook my PC up to my big screen tv, use my xbox controller with it, and it's exactly the same as a console. It's actually better due to enhanced graphics settings.

 

[GeorgW]

It's cheaper and more convenient than to constantly keep updating your gaming PC worth over $5000. It's that simple. I'd like to game on PC, I just don't have the money or the effort.

 

[Assassin Xaero]

In terms of controls, some genres (sports, racing, fighting) just feel wrong on a PC, while some are still arguably better on consoles (third person shooters, RPGs). Plus, you know, the exclusives.

How does it feel wrong? I hook my PC up to my big screen tv, use my xbox controller with it, and it's exactly the same as a console. It's actually better due to enhanced graphics settings.

In terms of controls, a keyboard and mouse feels weird on those. Yes, you can hook a controller up to a PC, but you can also hook a keyboard/mouse up to a console.

 

[Sabiancym]

In terms of controls, some genres (sports, racing, fighting) just feel wrong on a PC, while some are still arguably better on consoles (third person shooters, RPGs). Plus, you know, the exclusives.

How does it feel wrong? I hook my PC up to my big screen tv, use my xbox controller with it, and it's exactly the same as a console. It's actually better due to enhanced graphics settings.

In terms of controls, a keyboard and mouse feels weird on those. Yes, you can hook a controller up to a PC, but you can also hook a keyboard/mouse up to a console.

There are very very few games on console where a keyboard and mouse work. It usually only works for web browsing.

 

[Azaraxzealot]

You never have to replace hard drives? What sort of magical mithril are your HDDs made from? I'm serious: I've had two external HDDs die on me, and my desktop's main drive died just last week. (And this was a month after my laptop died.) Not to mention I had to upgrade my PS3's hard drive recently for space reasons. My friends in IT have all suggested hard drives these days shouldn't be expected to last more than 3 years. (Meanwhile, my 9 year old PS2 still works great.)

I'm just awesome like that. I replace them for being to small occasionally, but my oldest is seven (I think) years by now.

Spoiler: Many words spoiler'd for space

i'd like to call you out on the "cheaper games" thing.

if you don't buy from retail, you pay with your credit card, right? credit cards have interest rates, so that 49.99 you spent on the shiny new 59.99 game? it really translates to something like 70 dollars with interest, plus, with console games, you get the "pre-owned" market, which you can get games there for downwards of 20 bucks.

Also. no DRM to stop you from enjoying pre-owned or borrowed products.

No installation required (as long as you're not on PS3)

Multiplayer for most new games is better (since people make games for consoles first these days)

Couch multiplayer (ah... the Goldeneye days...)

of course with PC you get modding, all the features you "need" (like internet browsing, doing homework/work), and with emulators you can get almost any game you want.

but then again, most computers (from the get-go) are only made for work and business and not for pleasure (unless you buy a 3000 dollar one from alienware or something) otherwise, you have to make it yourself. and honestly? it's easier to skip the technobabble and learning to just buy a console and some games for it.

As for the price of games, steam sales. And I don't go buy games on release unless it's something I want really really badly.

I couldn't agree more with you about DRM however. All platforms have their share of problems, and DRM is one of the biggest for PC.

Thirdly, I don't have a TV to begin with, and most certainly not an HDTV. Playing games in a resolution below 720p? No thanks. 768p was the standard for Windows 98 for crying out loud.

And again with the prize; I can shave of 10 to 20% of the prize by building it myself, according to what I need it to do. For an Alienware as you said you pay a bunch extra just for the brand.
[hr]
In the end this is mostly a question of convenience for me, when my graphics card gets old I can replace it, and only it. If I need to do a major upgrade I can still keep the chassis, fans, harddrives and maybe the power supply too.

And last but not least I can feel a bit smug about my system of choice. HDTV you say? My cellphone has half the resolution of your HDTV.

resolution never bothered me. i dont like Standard Definition, but that's only because so many games are only made with HDTV in mind that it renders text unreadable.

besides, i come to PC when i wanna get my RTS or Simulation Game on (Starcraft and Stronghold for the win), and i go to console when i want to get my sandbox or hyper-action game on (Red Dead Redemption and Infamous).

so i use both (PC less, since i don't have the money to afford the parts nor the time to construct it between my job, my fiance, and my college)

 

[Sabiancym]

It's cheaper and more convenient than to constantly keep updating your gaming PC worth over $5000. It's that simple. I'd like to game on PC, I just don't have the money or the effort.

Do you not already own a PC?

That's what gets me. Most houses already have a PC. It would take very little money to get it gaming ready if it's not already.

And $5000 is a bit ridiculous for a PC. I bought top of the line everything on my PC last year, watercooled and everything it was only around $3000. I could have easily got a gaming ready PC for $500.

 

[Paragon Fury]

1: Consoles have the superior games: Basically all major AAA titles are designed for consoles now, and some don't even go to the PC at all. While the PC does still get quite a few good exclusive AAA games, consoles get the lion's share, making investing in them a better value oriented approach.

2: PC performance superiority over consoles is waning. Unless you really shell out for parts, most gaming PCs do not have significant graphics/performance advantage over current consoles, and they certainly won't over the next gen of consoles.

3: The controller is an infinitely better control setup for gaming over the mouse and keyboard, with the exception of RTS, MMO and certain select games. While the mouse still controls better for precise aiming, the joystick serves that purpose just fine and has the advantage of being infinitely better for movement controls than the keyboard.

4: The more you plan to play multiplayer, the more appealing the consoles become. PCs basically have ZERO in-house playability, and only increase and spread costs of PC gaming to multiple people, while with 1 console 4 people can play multiplayer together; it only takes 4 consoles for 16 to play together. With few exceptions, the console community also tends to stick a bit more with games too; its easier to find matches for console games for longer than it is on PC, unless you REALLY, REALLY like playing a particular way.

5: Portability. Consoles are easy to transport, work basically anywhere there is a TV and power, and don't take up as much room. Good gaming PCs are often HUGE, and often way A FUCKING TON, in addition to having multiple parts that must be transported.

6: Player-generated content is one of the few advantages PCs really have, and its not even that great an advantage. Because when you think about it honestly, 97% of all user content is shit or smut, 2% is decent and only really 1% is truly good worth saying "Yeah, this was worth it".

7: What sounds more appealing, in all seriousness?

Pay $300-$500 for a system that is guaranteed to play any game that comes out for it for the next 5 years, is easily portable, has an extremely simple set-up and plays games at very good level of performance, OR pay anywhere from $1000 to $2500 for a system that may only be relevant for 3 years before needing new parts to play the latest games, isn't portable or sharable, can have an extremely complicated set-up, but can play games at a higher level of performance.

1: MMOs are pretty much PC exclusive, RTS games, and most console games come out on PC. Making your argument completely false. Not to mention the amount of free indie games out there for PC.

2: Not true at all. If I dropped my graphics settings down to DX9 and at the same level that consoles run, I'd get 100+ more FPS than consoles. Guaranteed. You aren't even close to being knowledgeable about this.

3: I use a controller with my PC all the time. Xbox or PS3, you can use them both. Another useless point.

4: PCs have way more dedicated gaming servers. That's a win right there. Plus you can have multiple people playing one game on a PC if you have multiple monitors.

5: Gaming laptops are more powerful than current gen consoles, and more portable. Plus you can build a decent desktop in a relatively small case.

6: You're a console gamer. You don't have a clue about user created content. I can think of 50 great mods in Oblivion alone.


7: Seriously, what sounds better now?

1: MMOs are PC exclusive because of WoW. You can barely compete with WoW on PC, how do you expect a console MMO to do it? And indie games fall into the "97% of all user generated content sucks ass" slot.

2: Bullshit. Absolute, bold-type fucking lie. Mind telling us how much your graphics card(s) cost? Let me guess....somewhere in the area of $150-$300USD, right? Thats not counting your processor and MBoard either.

3: Many games do not support gamepad use, or have terrible unalterable game pad controls. Examples: Battlefield games, Crysis 1, Team Fortress 2.

4: Dedicated servers cost money, and have their own set of balance and fairness issues to deal with. And how many PCs can really handle playing multiple copies of a high-end game; and how many really allow it?

5: Again, bullshit, and they're costly, even more so than desktop PCs.

6: Nice blind attack. Perhaps you ought to have at least taken a cursory glance at my profile before launching that particular move.

But personal attacks aside, lets take measure, shall we?

If I were to go to TESNexus and look for Oblivion mods right now and sort them into groups, what did you think I would wind up with more of? Well-thought out and implemented mods designed to add to or significantly improve or add to the game experience, or would I find more mods dedicated to "TEETIES" and stupid, inane BS?

7: Now what sounds better?

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say you have never owned a gaming PC in your life and probably don't have any idea of how one works.

1. Ever played an indie game? The majority of my games are indie now because they are at least creative and FUN, as opposed to 99% of the ass the comes out on consoles. How's that for a blind and biased attack?

2. Ever made a computer? Ever seen the inside of one? Ever used one to game? No I'm not going to look at your profile since your words let me know you obviously have no idea what you are talking about. My 5 year old computer with a $50 graphics card gets a higher frame rate than my brother's PS3 eaisly when not running dx10.

3. This is a preference question. Keyboard and mouse is better to use in every situation I can think of except the lack of a rumble feature.

4. Dedicated servers cost nothing if you know how to set one up. I've had 15 players using my pc as a server whilst I played on it as well, giving us a nice even 16 with no lag.

5. My laptop is more powerful than a PS3, I'm not sure what world you live in where the PS3 has "earth shattering new hardware" but it stopped being new a few years ago.

6. Fine, I'll give you that but next time anyone quotes "little big planet" as being a good game I'll point to you and you can explain how it's crap for relying on user made content.

1: I'm using one right now. Its three years old. And yes, I know what indie games are; I also know the Escapist has a penchant for using "creative" and "original" as synonyms for "shit" and "pretentious".

2: I've done all of those things? Let see what $50 can get you for a GPU, huh? A quick trip to NEWEGG reveals for the price range of $25-$50 a nice grouping of 512MB etc. (thought the occasional 1GB card is there) Geforce 210s that are all inferior even to my laptop's 3 year old Geforce 8600M.

Try again?

3: Precision or pressure sensitive movement. Flight. Vehicle driving. All things the keyboard is inferior in comparison to the gamepad.

4: Dedicated servers for games like Battlefield, CoD and Crysis are certainly not free, by any measure.

5: How many people do you think would want to plop down $1000+ for gaming laptop or PC when the PS3 cost at its worst $700 and still runs games at very good level, and was a very good Blu-ray player to boot?

6: I've done that several times before. Sure, there are few mod/user content gems out there but they don't counteract the massive pile of suck that is the rest of user content.

 

[AlexLoxate]

One of the biggest turn-offs in terms of PC gaming for me are those unexpected, unexplained crashes and system requirements.

 

[trooper6]

First things first. I'm a Mac owner. Which means a lot of these games are not available for my computer, however they are available for my Xbox. So that takes care of that for me.

But also:

- No worries about system requirements.
- No worries about spending money for those said requirements.
- No DRM.
- I prefer the controller to mouse & keyboard.
- I like watching my video games on my big HDTV rather than on my smaller computer monitor.
- I like sitting on my couch rather than at my desk.
- I like the psychological separation between where I do my work (computer) and where I do my fun (console).
- My console is an Xbox 360. Which I bought for...I don't know...$250 in 2005. And so...I've spent $250 on my gaming rig over the last 6 years. That's pretty good value by my book.

 

[FalloutJack]

Why buy consoles? Alright, honest opinion for an honest question. If you're willing to shell out the money for it, your answer is this:

Options. You are paying for games which you can't get for PC. There are games you always wanted to get into, but you didn't have what you needed to play them. So, then you get the console and suddenly a door opens.

 

[mireko]

Console vs. PC threads should be moved to the Religion & Politics forum, imho.

 

[googleback]

I would like to just buy a gaming PC every few years but they're so fucking expensive, I'm on an Alienware M11x right now which I got half price because a mate imported it, it does the job really well and I get all of the benefits of pc gaming with the conveinience of consoles. the only thing I dont like about consoles is having to keep them so I can play my favourite games after its successor...

which is why i'm pissed the ps3 has no backwards compatibility! Seriously! My ps3 is my movie player now too! I'll probably keep that forever! it would have made things SO SIMPLE if they just gave us proper backwards compatibility!

I dont want a house full of consoles, I prefer digital distribution these days to boxed (unless its a special edition). THAT'S why I prefer PC gaming. there is no other reason, I even use a gamepad most of the time haha!

and on the topic of exclusives, most of them are just tech demo's that make you justify the purchase of their system... Uncharted, Killzone, Resistance. they're "technically" good but I didn't find them very memorable. as for the 360 the last exclusive for that I bought was Alan Wake which was great but I would have preferred a PC version.

the only thing that consoles offer me is the exclusive games and my ps3 has blu ray, the rest of my gaming is done on my M11x with cheaper and better looking games. simples*